UMNO REPS IN PAS STATE GOVTS?
Hadi indicates they may be placed in Kelantan, Terengganu govts
PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has indicated that the Islamic party may incorporate Umno representatives
into its Kelantan and Terengganu state governments.
He said this when asked if Pas had such a plan following the inking of a political charter between the two Malay-Muslim parties.
“On that, we have to wait and look at the next development (of the Umno-Pas cooperation).
“There is a plan, but that is for within our own ‘family’,” he said after the signing of the National Consensus Charter here yesterday.
Present were Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, his deputy, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Pas deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa and Pas secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan.
The Umno-Pas cooperation has been criticised by Pakatan Harapan leaders, as well as observers, alleging that the pact was a racially segmented union which would not benefit Malaysia’s multiracial society.
Hadi said the plan on cooperating with Umno had been broached and discussed among Pas leaders for many years.
He said former Pas spiritual leader, the late Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, was present during these discussions when he was alive.
“Ta’awun (cooperation) is a term that has been accepted by Nik Aziz when he was alive.
“We wanted to introduce a new approach, which is cooperation (instead of tahaluf, which means coalition).
“This has been discussed within the Syura Council when Nik Aziz was alive,” he said.
On Sept 18, 2014, it was reported that Nik Aziz had said he would never accept any attempt by Pas to collaborate with Umno.
Pas’ former Kota Baru member of parliament Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah was quoted as saying that the former Kelantan menteri besar had threatened to spit on the face of those who dared to make such a suggestion.
“Nik Aziz said he would spit on anyone who wants to invite Umno to cooperate with Pas.
“He said if anyone insisted on doing so, that person will have to wait until after he died,” he had said.